Depressing endings- Page 4

[ken8631]

Posted: 7/20/06 at 4:52pm

The Pillowman

[mvillalobos2004]

Posted: 7/20/06 at 4:56pm

The Kopit/Yeston "Phantom"...rips me apart!!!!

Updated On: 7/20/06 at 04:56 PM

[uncageg]

Posted: 7/20/06 at 5:10pm

Caroline or Change - The ending hit me in a very personal way. I was in tears.

[mvillalobos2004]

Posted: 7/20/06 at 5:16pm

The Public's "Wild Party" also well done. And "Falsettos".

[Danielm]

Posted: 7/20/06 at 5:17pm

I don't find the ending of Company depressing at all--at least not for Bobby. He goes off to live his own life out from under the thumb and away from the expectations of his married friends.

[My Fair Lady]

Posted: 7/20/06 at 5:18pm

Grand Hotel has a very depressing ending. I don't think it was mentioned.

[mvillalobos2004]

Posted: 7/20/06 at 5:22pm

Of course Sweeney Todd, but I'm sure it was already mentioned.

[musicaltheater1]

Posted: 7/20/06 at 5:24pm

Miss Saigon tops my list.
Les Miserables
West Side Story
Cabaret
Phantom of the Opera
Aida

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 7/20/06 at 7:08pm

Golden Boy

[Aldine]

Posted: 7/20/06 at 7:14pm

CHESS and Miss Saigon.....

[CurtainUp]

Posted: 7/20/06 at 10:37pm

I found Aida (they meet in another world and ARE together in the end before that) and Les Miserables (hard to explain) is bittersweet and uplifting in a sad way. West Side Story, as well - because people ARE united, even though it took a tragedy. But perhaps I'm just a silly romantic optimist.

[ThankstoPhantom]

Posted: 7/20/06 at 10:48pm

I definately agree with you on Les Miz.

Posted: 7/20/06 at 10:56pm

Les Miserables definitely has an overall depressing aura, but is the ending itself truly depressing? Yes, Valjean dies, but he's an old man, and Fantine and Eponine come to take his soul, so to speak. I think the audience generally assumes that Cossette and Marius will have a happy marriage together.

Whoever mentioned Chess -- now THAT ending is sad all around.

[I<3bway]

Posted: 7/20/06 at 11:10pm

I thought Hair had a depressing ending to it.

[Cenoern]

Posted: 7/21/06 at 12:32am

Miss Saigon breaks my heart into pieces whenever I see it.

[Forester]

Posted: 7/21/06 at 12:37am

I've always thought Les Mis' ending was about redemption and finding goodness, no matter the circumstance. The ending to Les Mis could be seen as uplifting as Valjean goes to heaven and those who died await for him there. While the two kids live happily ever after, also the Thenadier, who become filthy rich.

[RuprechtJr.]

Posted: 7/21/06 at 9:58am

I agree with whomever said "Follies". The one production I saw, Ben started hitting himself and slapping himself during the breakdown in "Live, Laugh, Love". I started getting choked up, especially his wails that he did. His "PHYLLIS!" sent shivers down my spine. It is a sad ending because Ben realizes that Phyllis only loved him for what he once had: money. Sally discovers things about Buddy. Even though all the young and old versions of the characters are back together, it's only for a sad reason: their theater being turned into a parking lot.

[mallardo]

Posted: 7/21/06 at 12:45pm

To me CHESS has the darkest ending ever. Everyone is betrayed, everyone is in despair, not a glimmer of hope. Many of the shows being listed have tragic endings but still leave us with the idea that the characters will persevere and perhaps prevail. Not CHESS. Probably why it didn't make it.

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 7/21/06 at 12:57pm

Ok, to people who say that Aida has a depressing ending, did you all walk out before the show ended? Yes, they die in the tomb. But that's not the end of the show.

Here is a description.

As they are in the tomb, Radames swears that "even if I have to search a thousand lifetimes, I will find you again." They sing:

Radames:

There'll be no ties of time and space
To bind us

Aida:

And no horizon we could not pursue

Both:

We'll leave the world's misfortunes far behind us
And I will put my faith and trust in you.

and the stage screens close around them. Stars are projected onto the screens and Amneris appears wearing the outfit she was in at the beginning of the show. She sings:

From deep within the tomb
A gentle light still shone
Showing me my path
As I ascended to the throne
Certain in my heart that ancient wars must cease
The lovers' deaths gave birth
To a reign of peace
And their story
And my journey
And the lesson they provide
Draw their strength and inspiration
From a love that never dies.

The screens open and we are back in the museum. The man and woman from the beginning are once again drawn to the tomb. Unless the entire audience slept through the beginning, they realize that the man and woman are reincarnations of Aida and Radames. They walk towards each other and look in each other's eyes. They have found each other.

Does that sound depressing?

I saw this on Broadway and then I saw it twice at a regional theatre. That time around, two kids played the reincarnated Aida and Radames.

I hardly think that two people finding each other after eternities apart is a depressing ending. It's a lot more hopeful than anything.

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 7/21/06 at 1:05pm

However, I will say that the ending of Miss Saigon is extremely depressing as is the ending of Sweeney Todd. But what was truly depressing this year was how many shows closed and also the existence of In My Life.

[snl89]

Posted: 7/21/06 at 1:26pm

^that's true about Aida actually :) even though it IS still really depressing because they die, its rather amazing and uplifting in the very end- because I mean, they're basically kinda being reincarnated! AND the history of Egypt got much better from that point on. So yeah, it kind of softens the blow of the fact that they both died and how tragic that is. You still walked out of that theater feeling really sad though

Ok, now to get back on topic:
Les Miz, without a doubt. THE saddest, most depressing ending I have ever seen. And yet, its not like its a turn off or anything. Its actually a big part of what makes the show so amazing. You are FOREVER destroyed by its sadness at the end

[noahrp3]

Posted: 7/21/06 at 1:31pm

I'd have to say the original version of Once On This Island. In the original version that was shown in previews, Ti Moune gets trampled to death by the peasants at the gates of the Hotel Beauxhomme and the show ended there. When people saw it, they thought it was too depressing, so they added "Why We Tell The Story" and reincarnated Ti Moune into a tree, which is really corny I think, but cool as well.

[RentHead2]

Posted: 7/21/06 at 2:20pm

My opinion for the saddest was definitly Urinetown - I mean sad, yet very much what I expected from that. The good guys take over, and then the whole town goes to hell. Poor Hope Cladwell...kinda felt bad for her a little.